August 11, 2024 • 8 mins
Recapping the Paris Olympics with our man on the ground - Michael Burgess
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's head back to Paris now and wrap the thirty
third Olympiad, where New Zealand have matched their highest medal
tally added Olympic Games. Track cyclist Ali Williston's bronze in
the Omnimen takes the country's total to twenty ten gold,
seven silver, three bronze. Let's level with the Tokyo Olympics.
Actually joining us on the CSP this morning, our man
(00:21):
who has been on the ground there right across the
thirty third Olympiad, Michael Burgess, Boujeo, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Bojo, Yes, Bonjoy, it's it's quite extraordinary.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
You mentioned those numbers, Brian, because you know, I'm just
old enough to remember Los Angeles. I was at primary school,
but I remember those eight golds at that Olympics. That was,
of course the Olympics where all the Eastern Block countries boycotted,
and you know that was always we never thought you'd
see that again. That was always just this amazing moment
you'd never see again. And then also Tokyo twenty golds, sorry,
(00:56):
twenty medals, and so to beat the LA mark the
amount of goals, it's just unbelievable, and as well to
get twenty medals an equal what they did in Tokyo.
It's just staggering and it has defied all the expert predictions,
including mine before the Games there might be twelve or
(01:16):
thirty medals.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
So you know, well done to the New Zealand team.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
They've obviously inspired each other and just come up with
all these amazing performances.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And when you think about it, all those countries competing
over there, we finished eleventh overall on the overall table
and that's impressive on its own all it is.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I mean, you know, it's not till you're here and
you're talking to other journalists from countries you know, a
lot bigger than New Zealand and they're excited about that they've.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Got five medals or four medals or three medals, and.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Then when you mentioned you're from New Zealand, they look
at the table like you know, what you what are
you guys doing down there?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Because it is extreme ordinary.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
I mean, in New Zealand we probably would probably put
more importance on metal tables than some other countries, I guess,
but still it's when you compare the big nations and
what or very big nations and what they've got and
what New Zealand has got.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It does defy the leaf, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, absolutely, Michael. Have you been on the ground there
now throughout the duration. What's it been like for you
being over there and looking at our successes in other
countries successes.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Oh, it's been fantastic. It's been you know, it's been
a privilege. I've loved the re minute of it, to
be honest. When I first arrived and there was quite
a bit of negativity about the games from the locals,
as I think I wrote about that, there was really
mixed feelings. A lot of people didn't really want to
hear they weren't that happy. But I think that all
changed after that make ceremony. The locals were so proud
(02:56):
of what they did with that, and the French performances
in the film a few days were incredible. They want
some really big gold medals in the pool and the
rugby sevens, and that I think got the nation going.
And so the atmosphere in the stadiums has been has
been absolutely amazing. I never forget Day one of track
and Field and the heats in the morning. Day one
is only pretty quiet. It was sold out start the
(03:18):
front seventy thousand people. So that was one example, and
I think the other point to make is just the
performances of the New Zealand team has been the other
thing to stand out. So many amazing performances, so many
athletes doing things way beyond what they might have expected.
So you put those two things together, plus the fact
(03:39):
that Paris has created all these you know, iconic crazy venues,
and I don't know, I think Los Angeles has already
got an impossible task in four.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Years to match what parents have done. Sorry, but they have.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
And it's been amazing too because the city backdrop when
we set it back over here, watching it all on
fire on Sky Television, with the Eiffel Tower and the
Chan Sali saying and everything else in the background, you
couldn't get a better city, could you.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
No, you couldn't.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
And you know the French, they're so creative and stylish,
and they're obviously sat down quite a few years ago
and just said, what's what's the best way to make.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
This look as cool as possible? You know, who would
have thought.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I didn't get a chance to go to the beach
volleyball near the Eiffel Tower, but I've seen the pictures
as well. Who would have thought of doing that? Who
would have thought of having their question in at Versailles.
There's been so many just really creative ideas that I
think of, like you have taken everyone's breath away, you know,
just sit a new standard for us here.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
In New Zealand. There were so many surprises. I mean
Finn Butcher and the kayak cross. We had curs performance
in the high jug Do you have a highlight? What's
the one standout highlight for you? Is that too difficult?
A question?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Too difficult?
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'd say, yeah, really difficult, but I'll give you three
or four quick I'd say Hamus Kurr is one that's
right at the front of mine. Because high jump is
such a special event and we've never done it before.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
And to see him doing his victory laps bringing across
the field like the rugby player was classic, hate and wild.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
The silver and the triathlon such an epic finish on
a burning hot day. We were just sweating just standing
in the media's own waiting for him. Finn Butcher, because
as you say, he's such a character, the kid from
Alexandra and talking to his father afterwards that is also something.
And Dame Lisa Carrington. I guess those are four that
spring to mind because she's thirty five and.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
She feels like she said a new peak. How do
you do that at thirty five? So there's probably many more,
but that before that'spring to mind.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
And we've got to mention Lydia Coe. How good is that? Gold, silver,
and bronze? Now three Olympics. Nobody has ever done that
in the world of golf and probably never will.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
The most amazing yet they won't. I can't see it
ever happening again. The most amazing thing is that most
people were riding her off before this Olympics, uh and
and thought she just wouldn't wouldn't feature because she's had
her ups and downs lately. But I picked up a
copy of the French the Classic Speriences sports newspaper keep
before the Games, and they had predictions of every single event,
(06:15):
every single medal, and they had her to get silver.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
So they are extremely smart.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
And as soon as I read that the day before
the Games, I started telling people, Oh, don't discount let
Eco and yeah, they will bang on.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
But I'm so.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Happy for her because she's she's She's.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
A lovely person.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
She really is, despite all her fames, she's she really
still remained quite a down to earth person. So to
achieve that and get the trifecta is just.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Something that I think she thoroughly deserves.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
From the side of the world, Michael, the Games a
pian to have gone off without a hitch of there
been in the little hitches From.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Your side, not really.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
There's the usual complaints that journalists love to make because
you know, we love having a moan, you know, like
around getting around.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Sometimes the transport's been tricky.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
It takes for example, it takes an hour and a
half to get to the kayaking because it's way out east.
It takes a long time to get to the velodrome
even further it's it's miles away, and so there's been
some heck ups with the buses or the trains. And
then sometimes you know you're you're waiting in the mixone.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
For an hour and a half to speak to an athlete.
But you know, you're at the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I mean, you can't really complain, but to be serious, no,
I think it's all it's all run incredibly smoothly.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
It's been really well organized. The security has been massive.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
You know, I'll never really forget the side of seeing
army or police with machine guns on sort of every
corner you go. But that's made you feel very safe,
and nothing's ever happened. There's been a few stories I've
heard of journalists getting pickpocketed or losing their laptop or
losing their phone or something, but nothing, nothing major. So no,
(07:57):
I can't I can't think of any of any hiccups
at all. I think the French have done a job that,
as I say, will be hard, very hard to match.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Well, Miss c Baku, Michael safe travels home, We'll say
au revoir and what a great result to go out on.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Thank you so much, thank you my pleasure. And yeah,
what what are games for New Zealand. We'll never forget it.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
We'll
Let's head back to Paris now and wrap the thirty
third Olympiad, where New Zealand have matched their highest medal
tally added Olympic Games. Track cyclist Ali Williston's bronze in
the Omnimen takes the country's total to twenty ten gold,
seven silver, three bronze. Let's level with the Tokyo Olympics.
Actually joining us on the CSP this morning, our man
(00:21):
who has been on the ground there right across the
thirty third Olympiad, Michael Burgess, Boujeo, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Bojo, Yes, Bonjoy, it's it's quite extraordinary.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
You mentioned those numbers, Brian, because you know, I'm just
old enough to remember Los Angeles. I was at primary school,
but I remember those eight golds at that Olympics. That was,
of course the Olympics where all the Eastern Block countries boycotted,
and you know that was always we never thought you'd
see that again. That was always just this amazing moment
you'd never see again. And then also Tokyo twenty golds, sorry,
(00:56):
twenty medals, and so to beat the LA mark the
amount of goals, it's just unbelievable, and as well to
get twenty medals an equal what they did in Tokyo.
It's just staggering and it has defied all the expert predictions,
including mine before the Games there might be twelve or
(01:16):
thirty medals.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
So you know, well done to the New Zealand team.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
They've obviously inspired each other and just come up with
all these amazing performances.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And when you think about it, all those countries competing
over there, we finished eleventh overall on the overall table
and that's impressive on its own all it is.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I mean, you know, it's not till you're here and
you're talking to other journalists from countries you know, a
lot bigger than New Zealand and they're excited about that they've.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Got five medals or four medals or three medals, and.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Then when you mentioned you're from New Zealand, they look
at the table like you know, what you what are
you guys doing down there?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Because it is extreme ordinary.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
I mean, in New Zealand we probably would probably put
more importance on metal tables than some other countries, I guess,
but still it's when you compare the big nations and
what or very big nations and what they've got and
what New Zealand has got.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It does defy the leaf, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, absolutely, Michael. Have you been on the ground there
now throughout the duration. What's it been like for you
being over there and looking at our successes in other
countries successes.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Oh, it's been fantastic. It's been you know, it's been
a privilege. I've loved the re minute of it, to
be honest. When I first arrived and there was quite
a bit of negativity about the games from the locals,
as I think I wrote about that, there was really
mixed feelings. A lot of people didn't really want to
hear they weren't that happy. But I think that all
changed after that make ceremony. The locals were so proud
(02:56):
of what they did with that, and the French performances
in the film a few days were incredible. They want
some really big gold medals in the pool and the
rugby sevens, and that I think got the nation going.
And so the atmosphere in the stadiums has been has
been absolutely amazing. I never forget Day one of track
and Field and the heats in the morning. Day one
is only pretty quiet. It was sold out start the
(03:18):
front seventy thousand people. So that was one example, and
I think the other point to make is just the
performances of the New Zealand team has been the other
thing to stand out. So many amazing performances, so many
athletes doing things way beyond what they might have expected.
So you put those two things together, plus the fact
(03:39):
that Paris has created all these you know, iconic crazy venues,
and I don't know, I think Los Angeles has already
got an impossible task in four.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Years to match what parents have done. Sorry, but they have.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
And it's been amazing too because the city backdrop when
we set it back over here, watching it all on
fire on Sky Television, with the Eiffel Tower and the
Chan Sali saying and everything else in the background, you
couldn't get a better city, could you.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
No, you couldn't.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
And you know the French, they're so creative and stylish,
and they're obviously sat down quite a few years ago
and just said, what's what's the best way to make.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
This look as cool as possible? You know, who would
have thought.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I didn't get a chance to go to the beach
volleyball near the Eiffel Tower, but I've seen the pictures
as well. Who would have thought of doing that? Who
would have thought of having their question in at Versailles.
There's been so many just really creative ideas that I
think of, like you have taken everyone's breath away, you know,
just sit a new standard for us here.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
In New Zealand. There were so many surprises. I mean
Finn Butcher and the kayak cross. We had curs performance
in the high jug Do you have a highlight? What's
the one standout highlight for you? Is that too difficult?
A question?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Too difficult?
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'd say, yeah, really difficult, but I'll give you three
or four quick I'd say Hamus Kurr is one that's
right at the front of mine. Because high jump is
such a special event and we've never done it before.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
And to see him doing his victory laps bringing across
the field like the rugby player was classic, hate and wild.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
The silver and the triathlon such an epic finish on
a burning hot day. We were just sweating just standing
in the media's own waiting for him. Finn Butcher, because
as you say, he's such a character, the kid from
Alexandra and talking to his father afterwards that is also something.
And Dame Lisa Carrington. I guess those are four that
spring to mind because she's thirty five and.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
She feels like she said a new peak. How do
you do that at thirty five? So there's probably many more,
but that before that'spring to mind.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
And we've got to mention Lydia Coe. How good is that? Gold, silver,
and bronze? Now three Olympics. Nobody has ever done that
in the world of golf and probably never will.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
The most amazing yet they won't. I can't see it
ever happening again. The most amazing thing is that most
people were riding her off before this Olympics, uh and
and thought she just wouldn't wouldn't feature because she's had
her ups and downs lately. But I picked up a
copy of the French the Classic Speriences sports newspaper keep
before the Games, and they had predictions of every single event,
(06:15):
every single medal, and they had her to get silver.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
So they are extremely smart.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
And as soon as I read that the day before
the Games, I started telling people, Oh, don't discount let
Eco and yeah, they will bang on.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
But I'm so.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Happy for her because she's she's She's.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
A lovely person.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
She really is, despite all her fames, she's she really
still remained quite a down to earth person. So to
achieve that and get the trifecta is just.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Something that I think she thoroughly deserves.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
From the side of the world, Michael, the Games a
pian to have gone off without a hitch of there
been in the little hitches From.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Your side, not really.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
There's the usual complaints that journalists love to make because
you know, we love having a moan, you know, like
around getting around.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Sometimes the transport's been tricky.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
It takes for example, it takes an hour and a
half to get to the kayaking because it's way out east.
It takes a long time to get to the velodrome
even further it's it's miles away, and so there's been
some heck ups with the buses or the trains. And
then sometimes you know you're you're waiting in the mixone.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
For an hour and a half to speak to an athlete.
But you know, you're at the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I mean, you can't really complain, but to be serious, no,
I think it's all it's all run incredibly smoothly.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
It's been really well organized. The security has been massive.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
You know, I'll never really forget the side of seeing
army or police with machine guns on sort of every
corner you go. But that's made you feel very safe,
and nothing's ever happened. There's been a few stories I've
heard of journalists getting pickpocketed or losing their laptop or
losing their phone or something, but nothing, nothing major. So no,
(07:57):
I can't I can't think of any of any hiccups
at all. I think the French have done a job that,
as I say, will be hard, very hard to match.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Well, Miss c Baku, Michael safe travels home, We'll say
au revoir and what a great result to go out on.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Thank you so much, thank you my pleasure. And yeah,
what what are games for New Zealand. We'll never forget it.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
We'll
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